JOIN USDelhi University is preparing to greet new students this year with strict anti-ragging rules in all its colleges. The 2012-13 academic session will start on July 23.
Students have been directed to submit in writing that they would not indulge in ragging, and have been informed of the consequences of sexual harassment charges on the campus.
The DU administration has also asked police to post more personnel at sensitive areas in North Campus.
“Colleges will form their own anti-ragging teams, comprising teaching and non-teaching faculty and senior students. The teams will monitor activities at college buildings and hostels,” said DU proctor Usha Rao.
The DU administration has installed CCTV cameras at all sensitive areas on both North and South Campus, and several North Campus colleges have even installed CCTV cameras on their own.
DU has stepped up security for women students too. “We will meet the local police again on July 19, and we have already spoken with Metro officials to put up anti-ragging posters in and around Metro stations,” said Rao.
“Constables will be posted in DU’s special buses. We have asked the Delhi transport Corporation to install loudspeakers in buses coming to the campus to announce about anti-ragging measures and helpline details,” said Rao. A help desk for students from the Northeast will also be set up.
DU officials have told colleges that a full report on steps taken into any ragging incident, which lands on the desk of the college anti-ragging team concerned, must be sent to the proctor’s office within three months.
“The Union Human Resource Development Ministry had written to the vice chancellor to increase security in colleges. We have printed helpline booklets to be distributed to new students, with contact details of every DU department, college, nearby police stations, women’s cell, anti-stalking cell and a 24-hour anti-ragging helpline,” said Rao.
Last year, senior students had complained that there was no interaction with juniors due to strict anti-ragging rules.
“We are not against interactions, but we don’t want any ragging incident,” said Rao.
No ragging incident was reported in DU last year.
In the 2010-11 session, Ramjas College had expelled a Mathematics student for assaulting a new student, while in the 2009-10 session, Kirori Mal College had expelled a Computer Science student and a Physical Science student for ragging a junior at the college hostel.
“Anybody found guilty of ragging charges will be expelled, suspended or the degree cancelled,” said Rao.